The day after

Today is the day after we, the people of the United States of America, made history by electing Barack Obama. I am not unique when I say that I never thought that I would see that happen in my lifetime, and I am elated that it did.

I had decided that I would stay up until I knew the outcome of the election and was pleasantly surprised when it was decided as early as it was. Just moments after 11 pm, suave, smart and devastatingly good-looking Anderson Cooper looked at me from CNN and said "MaryAnne, Barack Obama is our new president." Okay, so it didn't exactly happen like that...I think it was Wolf Blitzer who actually announced it and no one on television called me by name, but I prefer to remember it my own way.

I consider myself to be quite politically realistic and not at all naive about what elected officials can and can't do, so I was totally unprepared for my reaction: I cried. And for once in an election, they were tears of JOY.

Why anyone would want to be president is beyond me, but I am glad that there are people out there who do want the job. And I am pleased that this time, we chose a smart, educated, seemingly kind, savvy and worldly person who not only can pick the Constitution out of a line-up, but has read it and understands it. President-Elect Obama has a tough road ahead of him and I know that he can't wave his arms and things will magically get better, but I think he is well-equipped to lead this country into a better future.

And I am relieved that I will no longer be embarrassed by the person who occupies the White House, as I have been for the past eight years. Only 76 days until Inauguration Day!